The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a Romanian crime ring in Southern California targeting debit cards issued by the state for food and welfare benefits. The victims’ money is stolen when using California debit cards without chips. The technology behind magnetic strips on debit and credit cards has been around since the 1970's. But the state of California still uses magnetic strips on EBT cards, debit cards used to distribute food assistance through CalFresh and low-income welfare funds through CalWORKs. “A lot of this money is federal money. And so, it ultimately comes from the federal government and then the state matches. One of the things that is baffling to me is why the fed hasn't required a chip, when they transfer the money,” said Chuck LaBella, a former San Diego U.S. Attorney. Most consumers are used to seeing a chip on their credit cards these days. The technology works to prevent thieves from using card skimmers to read the magnetic strips. MORE: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/romanian-crime-ring-in-san-diego-targets-ebt-cards/509-571e7593-d646-47a6-bf3a-787e31609dbe